Bushi Matsumura (Sokon Matsumura)
Bushi / Grandmaster
Legendary Okinawan Shuri-te grandmaster, royal bodyguard to three Ryukyu kings, and master to Anko Itosu.
Quick Facts
Date of Birth1809
Date of Death1899
Era19th century
Country of Origin
Okinawa (Japan)
Okinawa (Japan)Rank / TitleShuri-te Grandmaster / Royal Bodyguard
Active Years1830–1899
Biography
Sokon "Bushi" Matsumura was the paramount architect of Shuri-te Karate. Bodyguard to Ryukyu Kings Sho Ko, Sho Iku, and Sho Tai, he integrated Satsuma Jigen-ryu swordplay into karate kata.
Associated Martial Arts
Shorin-ryuFounder→
A family of Okinawan lineages descending from Shuri-te. The name points to Shaolin, but that is a claim to the tradition, not evidence of a direct line.
Shuri-teFounder→The historical Okinawan empty-hand art from the royal city of Shuri, predecessor of Shotokan. The Shuri-Naha-Tomari division is a later classification by researchers.